Jesus left us some wonderful lessons about what happened around Him as He hung on the Cross. We should look deeper into what happened at the time of these events.
Even the disciples had fled and forsook Jesus. They thought it was over. He was arrested, taken into Roman custody and evenly crucified.
These were men who were Jesus for over three years, and Jesus had told them many times that He would be crucified and raised on the third day.
In Luke 23:40. But the other one answered and rebuked him, saying, “Do not even you fear God, you who are under the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly, for we are receiving due payment for what we did; but this Man did nothing wrong.” 42. Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom. (A Faithful Version)
We see the thief on the Cross asking Jesus to remember him when He comes to His Kingdom. Here was a man who was not even taught by Christ, but he understood what the disciples had failed to understand, was that Jesus would be resurrected! Where did he get all this insight from?
Jesus said in John 6:44. No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (A Faithful Version) God answered the prayers of Jesus and drew this man and opened his mind to WHO was crucified next to him.
Remember, at the first both thieves were ridiculing Jesus Matthew 27:44. And the two robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him with the same words. (A Faithful Version) But as Jesus prayed for them one of the thieves came to repentance.
This must have been a humbling experience for the disciples when they thought about it afterwords. They had been taught by Jesus and was around Him for over three years and yet they had failed to get the message. Here were men who had run like cowards when things got tough. I think we should let this be a lesson for us as we see world events unraveling around us.
But God would use this, they had to learn of the Adamic nature that they were born with, as Paul relates to us in Romans 7:14-24. After they had reached failure of the greatest kind, then 40 days later men who acted like cowards would go forth to astound the world because the power of the One who was crucified would be dwelling within them to produce many amazing feats.
God would work it all out for the good. Before that they would not have had the humility to do the work with. But when they found out they were not the men they thought they were, then they were ready to be used by the Master.
The thief on the Cross was allowed to see that Jesus would be resurrected before the disciples were allowed to see this. God always works to create humility in His servants. And this matter would be no different.
Luke 23:43. And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise”. (A Faithful Version) Christ reassured this man that he would be with Him in paradise.
I feel A lot more was spoken to these two men that what was recorded here in Scripture for us. Can we imagine God giving you revelation that the One crucified next to you is going to be resurrected? Although it was recorded that he asked Jesus to remember him when He was resurrected, there’s no telling how much conversation went on before that. Remember, this man was brought to repentance while on the Cross. There’s no telling how much Jesus shared with this man to bring him to repentance. One day we will know. But what’s most important is recorded for us, and it’s an important lesson for all of us.
It was the One who was crucified with Jesus who received revelation of who He was. Is there a lesson for us here?
There are some vital lessons in this for us. Many of us have debated and fought over doctrine but have failed to examine our lives before God. I can hear Paul saying to all of us when brethren bragging over different doctrines. 1 Corinthians 2:2. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (A Faithful Version)
That’s what I have been trying to share in this article brethren. Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The Churches in Revelation 3:14-20 through they were full and in need of nothing. Five of the seven churches in these messages were told to repent or face serious consequences. I have been in this Laodicean attitude myself through my own calling, and the only way I ever came out of it was by repentance. And I pray and hope not to slip into this dangerous attitude again.
Although these attitudes are rampant in the Churches of God today. I know that most of the readers of this article won’t think it applies to them, because human nature is so deceptive that many will not give heed to these spiritual warnings. And it can cost them their spiritual lives before it is over with. We think we are good people and fail to see the danger of our state of being.
In Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (A Faithful Version) But we have to open the door {and seek Him out}. He has never and will never force the door open if a person is unwilling to receive Him.
While many bicker over doctrine and what Church leader to follow-you do it differently brethren. Ask God to pull you into His bosom so that you can have an everlasting intimate growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:7. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. (A Faithful Version)
Praise be to the One who bled and died for us.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron
Lessons From the Cross – Ron Volk
September 13, 2025 by Shirley Gohner • Uncategorized • 0 Comments
Jesus left us some wonderful lessons about what happened around Him as He hung on the Cross. We should look deeper into what happened at the time of these events.
Even the disciples had fled and forsook Jesus. They thought it was over. He was arrested, taken into Roman custody and evenly crucified.
These were men who were Jesus for over three years, and Jesus had told them many times that He would be crucified and raised on the third day.
In Luke 23:40. But the other one answered and rebuked him, saying, “Do not even you fear God, you who are under the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly, for we are receiving due payment for what we did; but this Man did nothing wrong.” 42. Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom. (A Faithful Version)
We see the thief on the Cross asking Jesus to remember him when He comes to His Kingdom. Here was a man who was not even taught by Christ, but he understood what the disciples had failed to understand, was that Jesus would be resurrected! Where did he get all this insight from?
Jesus said in John 6:44. No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (A Faithful Version) God answered the prayers of Jesus and drew this man and opened his mind to WHO was crucified next to him.
Remember, at the first both thieves were ridiculing Jesus Matthew 27:44. And the two robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him with the same words. (A Faithful Version) But as Jesus prayed for them one of the thieves came to repentance.
This must have been a humbling experience for the disciples when they thought about it afterwords. They had been taught by Jesus and was around Him for over three years and yet they had failed to get the message. Here were men who had run like cowards when things got tough. I think we should let this be a lesson for us as we see world events unraveling around us.
But God would use this, they had to learn of the Adamic nature that they were born with, as Paul relates to us in Romans 7:14-24. After they had reached failure of the greatest kind, then 40 days later men who acted like cowards would go forth to astound the world because the power of the One who was crucified would be dwelling within them to produce many amazing feats.
God would work it all out for the good. Before that they would not have had the humility to do the work with. But when they found out they were not the men they thought they were, then they were ready to be used by the Master.
The thief on the Cross was allowed to see that Jesus would be resurrected before the disciples were allowed to see this. God always works to create humility in His servants. And this matter would be no different.
Luke 23:43. And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise”. (A Faithful Version) Christ reassured this man that he would be with Him in paradise.
I feel A lot more was spoken to these two men that what was recorded here in Scripture for us. Can we imagine God giving you revelation that the One crucified next to you is going to be resurrected? Although it was recorded that he asked Jesus to remember him when He was resurrected, there’s no telling how much conversation went on before that. Remember, this man was brought to repentance while on the Cross. There’s no telling how much Jesus shared with this man to bring him to repentance. One day we will know. But what’s most important is recorded for us, and it’s an important lesson for all of us.
It was the One who was crucified with Jesus who received revelation of who He was. Is there a lesson for us here?
There are some vital lessons in this for us. Many of us have debated and fought over doctrine but have failed to examine our lives before God. I can hear Paul saying to all of us when brethren bragging over different doctrines. 1 Corinthians 2:2. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (A Faithful Version)
That’s what I have been trying to share in this article brethren. Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The Churches in Revelation 3:14-20 through they were full and in need of nothing. Five of the seven churches in these messages were told to repent or face serious consequences. I have been in this Laodicean attitude myself through my own calling, and the only way I ever came out of it was by repentance. And I pray and hope not to slip into this dangerous attitude again.
Although these attitudes are rampant in the Churches of God today. I know that most of the readers of this article won’t think it applies to them, because human nature is so deceptive that many will not give heed to these spiritual warnings. And it can cost them their spiritual lives before it is over with. We think we are good people and fail to see the danger of our state of being.
In Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (A Faithful Version) But we have to open the door {and seek Him out}. He has never and will never force the door open if a person is unwilling to receive Him.
While many bicker over doctrine and what Church leader to follow-you do it differently brethren. Ask God to pull you into His bosom so that you can have an everlasting intimate growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:7. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. (A Faithful Version)
Praise be to the One who bled and died for us.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron